U368 Mongol Conquest Lecture
Week 5, Monday:  The Chinese Theory of Dynastic Cycles

 

  1. The Empire/Dynasty/State--kuo/guo
    1. Numerous dynasties in Chinese history
      1. Everyone aware that no ruling family will last forever
      2. Mandate of heaven (t'ien-ming/tianming)
    2. Three paths to power
      1. Powerful general murders/deposes his imperial master--Song
      2. Chaotic peasant rebellions leads to disorder and...
        1. General of the previous dynasty establishes new order--Tang
        2. Or, peasant rebel sweeps to power--Han, Ming
      3. Inner Asian leader conquers part of China--Liao, Jin/Chin
      4. Scenarios 2 and 3 both conquest dynasties
    3. Only religious rebels and Confucian literati excluded as emperors
  2. The State and the world/society--t'ien-hsia/tianxia
    1. New ruling clique: emperor's 1) family 2) companions 3) hometown boys
      1. New emperor focus of intense personal loyalty, est. in conquest
      2. Camaraderie with emperor, scorn for outsiders
      3. Emperor uses his comrades as main officials
    2. Confucian statecraft--peaceful evolution of the conquest elite
      1. Ruling group's jen/ren (in-group feeling) >> order, honesty, but...
      2. Ruler must "extend in-group feeling," recruit outside the inner core
      3. Literati promote autocracy & bureaucracy to side-line conquest-group
      4. Formalizing court ceremonial distances emperor from comrades
      5. "Empire is won on horseback, but cannot be ruled on horseback"
    3. Inner and Outer court
      1. Inner court is imperial family >> personal, unique customs, etc.
      2. Outer court is administration >> procedural, historical precedents
      3. Ideal emperor is impartial moderator for opinionated officials
  3. Dynastic cycle
    1. Founding and height--age of chih/zhi "substance/vigor"
      1. Depopulation (war, disease, famine), dynasty change go together
      2. Taxation light, government simple (solidarity reduces factionalism)
    2. Decline--age of wen "culture/complexity/sophistication"
      1. Luxury, factionalism replaces simple customs >> high taxes
      2. Farmers seek protection from taxes, take shelter under magnates
      3. Dynasty supported by fewer and fewer tax-payers
      4. Ministers show factionalism
    3. Personally evil emperor causes Heaven to transfer mandate